Calcareous Deposit in the Knees, and high state of Inflammation.—The last case shews how the human body may be exposed to the action of water, with friction, for any length of time. The present case is that of an English Gentleman, well known to all visitors at Gräfenberg.
G——, aged between 50 and 60, gouty for the last twenty years, with contraction of the limbs, chalk stones having formed in the joints. This patient travelled from Italy to Gräfenberg during the heat of summer, and, on arriving, had a most painful attack of gout in his lower extremities.
Priessnitz, without the least preparation, put him into a tepid bath, and he was rubbed by three men for nearly three hours, occasionally throwing pails of cold water over his head and shoulders. This so reduced the inflammation, that, towards the end of that period, the afflicted part might also be rubbed with the wet hand.
Heating bandages were then applied to those parts and the waist.
Water was drunk plentifully during and after the operation.
Patient was able afterwards to get out of doors with the use of sticks, and slept well at night.
Next morning he began the regular treatment, which was as follows:—
Packing-sheet until warm; then the bath as before for about two hours; noon, rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath, fifteen minutes; afternoon, morning process renewed.
Mr. Priessnitz told this patient that, by the following means, he might always ward off a violent attack of gout:—